New hope as orange-bellied parrot sighting reported by ranger in old South Australian habitat

A sighting of the critically endangered orange-bellied parrot has been reported in an area of South Australia where the bird has not been seen for nearly two decades.

The bird thought to be the rare parrot was spotted by a ranger along the coast of Canunda National Park, near Millicent, in South Australia's south-east.

The coordinator of the South Australian Orange-Bellied Parrot (OBP) Recovery Team, Bob Green, is investigating the claim and said it would have exciting implications for researchers and conservationists if legitimate.

"It would confirm that we do have birds moving into South Australia," he said.

"The last orange-bellied parrot known in South Australia was five years ago at Port MacDonnell.

"We need to know if they're still using habitats on this side of the border … so we can manage for that."

Mr Green said sightings had to be investigated carefully as members of the public often confused them with the blue-winged parrot, rock parrot or elegant parrot.

"Probably 99 per cent of sightings we can dismiss through certain aspects of what the person's describing and rule out that it is an orange-bellied parrot," he said.

"There are a few features — the call, the colour of the primary feathers in the wing, colours around the face — that help [identify them].

"Funny as it might seem, the orange belly isn't a distinguishing feature because all of the coastal Neophema parrots have orange bellies.

"You have to know what you're looking for."

He said it was promising that the ranger had reported a distinctive call, characteristic of orange-bellied parrots when they are flushed from cover.